MSNBC article about "running" a marathon...funny

If I were her "trainer" I would have taken all those pills rolled them together and taking them myself hoping to kill myself after about 3 hours. You know he has to be loving his job. Bet he feels like a champ. If I were him I would have punched her as soon as she mentioned what she ate for breakfast, thus knocking her out and not wasting 7 hours of my life.

Guys I totally understand. When you read that MSNBC article, you have to cope with what you've just read and it can be highly stressful. I went through these 5 psychological stresses:

1. Shock: that it was even in the MSNBC site

2. Denial: that we have people interested in that shit

3. Anger: that somebody that slow could feel a sense of accomplishment and then openly say it on a national website, plus maybe I should run 6:39 and get publicity.

4. Confusion: A loss of sense of direction in my own training and its meaning

5. Acceptance: finally coping with it and getting counseling and getting on with my life, although making rude comments to save the integrity of our real running community.

Guys, you're not alone. I'll be praying for you when you think of this article.

6. Amazement that someone would actually "run" the entire day for such a shitty "accomplishment".

If they pulled up the mats before I got there and opened the streets I would just duck into the bushes and call it a day.

I cant figure out why she is being congratulated for failing in the marathon. Do marathons still have a finish line up at the 6:40 point? That is a long as time to be out there.

I am shocked too everyone said such positive things to her. Unreal

you can find the results of the vancouver marathon at:

http://www.adidasvanmarathon.ca/results/25_results.html

this marathon stays open till the last "runner" crosses the line. in this case the last runner took over 9 hours to finish. in fairness to her she was in the F70-74 age group. however 2nd to last was 8:55:xx and in the F25-29 age group. absent serious medical issues something is wrong here.

i do admit i am a bit torn on this, if she wants to walk 26.2 miles its not my business. on the other hand there is something here that bugs me based on the fact that people will see what she did and compare it to what i did my marathon in. in some sense it seems to send a message that all marathons are equal. at the same time meb and paula may think the same thing about me and my times.

i frankly do not know if she sets a good example for people to get off their behinds and get in shape or if she sets a bad example that will lead fat people into injury. to me that is what makes the story interesting.

againtocarthage wrote:

i think she was being sarcastic with the ironman comment?

Some freak reported in Phoenix got into last years ironman because she was a reporter and she wanted to do a story on it. She did somehow finish before the cutoff, but it was a sorry attempt. What would have happened if she died out there?

People are congratulating her on a performance where she came in 4080th place and only beat 90 people. And she is so proud of herself.

The last post was correct about people thinking just because you finished a marahton it was an amazing fet. This is not an amazing feat and I have been in situations where I am having a conversation with people and they find out I ran a marathon (PR 2:31) and they go on to say well such and such ran a marathon too you should talk to her/him.

So one time they bring their friend over and they are like you both did a marathon and I mention my time (No I am not amazing but better than avg) and then they say well I ran 5 or 6 hours and the other people have no clue what a big difference that is. They think we are equal because we both finished.

Like I said, if I even remain in this sport, I am going to seek counseling soon.

sam w wrote:

i frankly do not know if she sets a good example for people to get off their behinds and get in shape or if she sets a bad example that will lead fat people into injury. to me that is what makes the story interesting.

Good point.This is my problem with runners like this woman.What benefit do they get from torturing themselves for one marathon, or getting injured trying, then going right back to sitting on their ass? Why do people insist on starting a running program with a marathon, instead of 5ks or 10ks?

Doesn't it make more sense to start slow and make running a lifetime pursuit, instead of a one time scream for attention?

That is a well said response. My gripe about this is the fact it doesn't promote life long fitness for a majority of the people out there. Anyways to show you the demise of the sport here are some numbers and numbers dont lie:

From the Vancouver Marathon 70% of the field ran slower than 9 minute pace, 44% of the field was slower than 10 minute pace and an unbelievable 23% was slower than 11 minute pace... Waddle on friends

galloway effect

People are more impressed with a person who takes a lot longer to finish. I know two people who finished Columbus one in 3:16 and the other in 5:28, although in diff. years. At a party, they were talking about their times and people just drooled over the 5:28 time. "You mean you RAN for over 5 hours? Jim only ran for 3." It's no wonder she's getting emails of praise. The slower your time, the more of a hero you are.

I wanted to see if these percents would be similar in a large marathon and it actually gets worse:

Chicago 2004: 72% of the field was slower than 9 minute miles, 51% was slower than 10 minute miles and a whooping 30% was slower than 11 minute miles...

guys don't worry, i just checked the results, it's not as bad as you think!!

she actually ran 6:36:16, not 6:39!

Pup wrote:

People are more impressed with a person who takes a lot longer to finish. I know two people who finished Columbus one in 3:16 and the other in 5:28, although in diff. years. At a party, they were talking about their times and people just drooled over the 5:28 time. "You mean you RAN for over 5 hours? Jim only ran for 3." It's no wonder she's getting emails of praise. The slower your time, the more of a hero you are.

On a similar note, I was at a party with Jason Mueller at MSU. He had just ran a 4:08 indoor mile that winter and he was talking about it at the party with a few people, who were slightly amazed. Then some gallowalker came up and said he'd just ran a marathon in 4:46. The girls instantly left Jason and drooled all over the marathon guy. That drove me for 3 months into a state of alcoholism, lack of training, lack of direction and focus in my life, and only was able to regain a competitive fire after running many miles on desolate trails in Michigan trying to "find myself" again. Hopefully I will never ever have to endure such again.

Brettman, were you posting here as Evil Kneivel? Or however in the hell you spell his name.

?? wrote:

Brettman, were you posting here as Evil Kneivel? Or however in the hell you spell his name.

You lost me. Plus, I only ever post under this name.

sam w, I am with you on this and I feel for you. When I first read this article I so desperately wanted it to be true, what you say. I forced myself into a state of denial and said, "Yes, she is serious! Yes, she is motivating fat people! Yes, she is interesting and hahahah, so funny, that JOKE about the Ironman!"

But then, I realized that she wasn't offering this to fat people, she was serious, she did think she did well, and yes, she is serious about the Ironman.

It is tough to grieve over such an outrageous claim and we are here for support after reading such a claim on MSNBC. I am still coping.

"Oh God, I was thinking, please, please, please end this."

Funny, I was mumbling that to myself after the opening paragraph, chanting it by the time I got to the part about it being "a beautiful warm day," and all but screaming it when she described mulling over her her uncoming Ironman when she was five hours into a race and only 3/4 finished.